Vic Mensa Speaks Out on Rappers Abusing Women

The Chicago MC addresses a serious issue in the hip hop community.

Chicago’s own Vic Mensa has never been one to hold his tongue about issues he opposes. He recently made an appearance on the culture website Pigeons & Planes to discuss his debut studio album, The Autobiography. When asked what things surprise him in hip hop culture nowadays, Mensa focused on the violence against women, and how the actions of select rappers have dire effects on their careers.

“I think that beating up women as being a catalyst for rap success—which I’m really seeing in 2017—is a horrible trend. Very bad. That used to be something we condemned you for,” Mensa says. “They’re not problematic artists, they’re cowards. That’s my issue, that we get into this place of confusing troubled and charismatic people with just cowards. Beating up women, on video, as these rappers continue to do, and then their little fans continue to support them for it and it gets them popping—we know what I’m talking about—it’s not just a problematic person, it’s not like he’s a troubled artist. No, he’s a pussy, that’s what’s going on.”